“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfilment.”

Sir David Attenborough

Are you a lover of the natural world? Do you get a buzz from being surrounded by nature and plants?

Then you might like to brew yourself a cup of your favourite infusion (herbal or otherwise!), put your feet up, and come with me on a little journey about plants, and how they can enrich your life.

Plants make us happy. They make places more beautiful, and living spaces feel alive and energised. They improve air quality and wellbeing, and there is science to substantiate this claim. Read on to learn more.

Plants are something to nurture and care for, and they care back! Have you ever been near a plant and felt instantly calm and connected to the present moment? I certainly have.

So….why have plants as friends?

1. Plants are an easy and affordable way to bring nature into our homes and gardens

For those of you who live in rural areas, it is likely that you are surrounded by an abundance of nature. I dream of the day when I will live out of the city, and wake up with a green canopy around my home. But back to the present time now…..for us urban dwellers, bringing some green friends into our homes can be a wonderful way to connect to nature, and to beautify our living spaces.

2. Unleash your creativity

Use your imagination to create and experiment with new ideas.  There has been a veritable explosion of green thumb action on social media.  If you are on Instagram or Pinterest, you don’t have to search for too long for inspiration. A few of my Instagram favourites are: @theplanthunter , @myplantlifebalance , @lush_forest and @wildernisamsterdam .

3. Connect to nature and to your community

Gardening is grounding, and it connects you to nature, rather than the internet! Being connected to the natural world takes us out of ourselves, and reminds us that we are part of something greater.  It is also wonderful for our health, as it reduces stress, connects you to the present, and instills a sense of calm.  Gardening also brings people together.  You can share your produce and gardening ideas with friends, family and neighbours.  In many places there are wonderful community gardens, such as Veg out in St Kilda, Melbourne.

4. Plant research   

For my fellow science nerds out there, you will be happy to know that there is research to back up the claims that plants make us feel good! In fact, having just one plant at work or in a living space can improve air quality by 25%. To read about this exciting area of research, go to www.plantlifebalance.com.au/the-science/

5. Population explosion

A recent radio interview about population growth caught my attention. It is predicted that by 2050 Melbourne’s population will grow to around 8 million people. This means food production will need to increase by around 60%.  Part of the solution is for people to grow more food themselves.  Even if you are limited for space, which is likely to be an increasingly common situation as housing prices continue to rise, you can still create a garden and grow some food . It’s easy to grow food on the balcony, kitchen windowsill, or in a courtyard or garden.  Growing your own herbs also means you won’t need to buy them from the stupor market (!) You can usually buy a whole punnet for the cost of one bunch, or better still, grow your own herbs from seed, and you will have a constant supply of fresh green edible goodness!

6. Goodbye landfill

Reduce landfill by having your own compost bin or worm farm.  Your fruit and vegetables scraps, coffee grinds, tea leaves, garden cuttings and more can be added to create rich compost and liquid fertiliser to feed your garden with.

I hope you enjoyed this brief insight into some of the benefits of having plants as friends.  If you are interested in reading more, please see the links below.

And don’t forget to check out Herbaceous’ regular posts over on Instagram and Facebook . 

I’d love to hear about your favourite ways of connecting with your plant friends.  You can leave comments at the end of this post, or you can contact me via email .

Greenest wishes,

Gabriella xo

Site of interest:

The Planthunter : www.theplanthunter.com.au

Plant Life Balance: www.plantlifebalance.com.au

Image via Instagram: @theplanthunter

Plant research information:  www.plantlifebalance.com.au/the-science/